Food / Water / Environmental

Food, Water & Environmental Pre Poured Petri Dishes

E&O manufacture and stock a comprehensive range of high quality standard and bespoke formulations of readytouse plated culture media in several different petri dish sizes and media depths to accommodate all microbial growth requirements. Packaging formats comply with all industry sector regulations.

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  • Bacillius cereus Selective Agar (PEMBA) This is a medium for the selective isolation and enumeration of Bacillus cereus in food samples. It is said to be particularly suitable for the detection of small numbers of Bacillus cereus particularly in the presence of other contaminating organisms. The medium is made selective by the inclusion of Polymixin and Sodium Pyruvate is also present which is said to improve Egg Yolk precipitation and enhance sporulation. As Bacillus cereus is Mannitol Negative the colonies are bluish in colour, due to the presence of the Bromothymol Blue Indicator, with a surrounding precipitate of the same colour due to Lecithinase production (from the Egg Yolk). NB:  It should be noted that some Proteus spp. and gram positive cocci may grow on this medium.
  • Bacillus Cereus (Mannitol Egg Yolk Polymixin - MYP) Agar Intended for the selective enumeration of Bacillus cereus in food samples the medium uses two reactions (Mannitol fermentation and Lecithinase production) to differentiate Bacillus cereus from other members of the species. As Bacillus cereus is Mannitol Negative the colonies are pink in colour due to the presence of Phenol Red Indicator. Lecithinase production (from the Egg Yolk) is indicated by a white precipitate around the colonies. Polymixin is added as the selective agent to inhibit coliforms. NB: It should be noted that some Proteus spp and gram positive cocci may grow on this medium.
  • Baird Parker Agar with 5% Egg Yolk Tellurite Baird Parker Agar is a selective medium for the isolation and presumptive identification of coagulase-positive staphylococci. This medium is used extensively for detecting Staphylococcus aureus in foods, dairy products, and other materials. The medium is made highly selective by the inclusion of Lithium Chloride and Potassium tellurite. The Potassium tellurite inhibits most coliforms and is reduced by staphylococci giving rise to black colonies. Glycine and Sodium Pyruvate are included as growth enhancers while the pyruvate also acts as a neutraliser of toxic peroxides. NB: Any black colonies (with or without the halo) on this medium must be confirmed as Staphylococcus aureus by further tests (e.g. Coagulase Test or Latex Agglutination etc.)
  • Bile Aesculin Agar Bile Aesculin Medium is generally used for the differentiation and presumptive identification of Group D streptococci (enterococci). Enterococci hydrolyse aesculin forming, amongst other products, aesculetin which in turn combines with Ferric ammonium citrate producing a dark brown or black complex. The presence of Bile salts in the medium inhibits gram positive organisms other than enterococci. The medium can also be used for the presumptive identification of certain organisms within the Enterobacteriaceae group such as Klebsiella spp., Enterobacter spp., etc.
  • A general purpose medium enriched with 5% Defibrinated Sheep Blood, suitable for the isolation of most organisms including many fastidious anaerobes.
  • Brilliant Green Agar This medium is intended for use in the isolation of Salmonellae other than Salmonella typhi. Although it can be used as a primary isolation medium it is not recommended for this purpose and is generally used for subculture from selective enrichment media. It should be noted that the medium is highly selective and therefore not suited to the isolation of Salmonella from samples where the numbers may be low. NB:  It is not recommended that this medium be used for the isolation of Salmonella typhi and Shigella spp.
  • This medium is designed for the selective isolation of Campylobacter spp., particularly C. jejuni and C. coli , which are major causes of gastrointestinal infection. Campylobacter Blood Free Agar CCDA was formulated to allow replacement of blood with a combination of charcoal, ferrous sulphate, and sodium pyruvate. Selectivity is achieved through the addition of broad spectrum cefoperazone and amphotericin B to inhibit fungi. Inoculated plates are incubated at 41.5°C to improve growth of the thermophilic species including C. jejuni and C. coli. Campylobacter Blood Free Agar CCDA is recommended for food testing in compliance with the requirements of ISO 10272- 1:2017(1) . It can also be used for isolation of Campylobacter spp. from clincal specimens such as faeces(2,3). 1. ISO 10272-1:2017. Microbiology of food and animal feeding stuffs – Horizontal method for detection and enumeration of Campylobacter spp. – Part 1: Detection method. 2. Public Health England. (2014). Investigations of Faecal Specimens for Enteric Pathogens. UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations. B 30 Issue 8.1. 3. Public Health England. (2018). Identification of Campylobacter species. UK Standards for Microbiology Investigations. ID 23 Issue 3.1.
  • Campylobacter Blood Free CCDA Agar One of several media formulations available for the selective isolation of Campylobacter spp., primarily C.jejuni and C.coli, which are the leading cause of enteric illness in the UK. Campylobacter spp. can cause mild to severe diarrhoea, usually self-limiting, but some specific serotypes can trigger acute post-infective conditions affecting the peripheral nervous system, such as Guillain-Barré Syndrome. Campylobacter Blood-Free Selective Medium (CCDA) was first described by Bolton. This medium was formulated to replace blood with a combination of charcoal, ferrous sulphate, and sodium pyruvate. Also, in order to improve selectivity, Cefoperazone replaced the Cephazolin utilised in the original formulation. Bolton recommended incubating inoculated plates at 37°C to improve isolation rates but incubation at 41.5°C is recommended for the isolation of the commonly encountered thermophilic species (C.jejuni & C.coli). Yeast and fungal contaminants can be suppressed with the addition of Amphotericin B. Campylobacter Blood-Free Selective Medium (CCDA) is recommended for food testing. Campylobacter Blood-Free Selective Medium with the addition of Yeast Extract and Cefoperazone is used in the Isolation of Campylobacter species from foodstuffs and swabs in the FDA/BAM Method. The product complies with the requirements of ISO 10272-1:2006.